Medway

Medway's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in marriage, religion and housing tenure.

The population passed quarter of a million

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Medway increased by 5.8%, from just over 249,000 to 264,000.

The addition of about 14,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Medway was home to, on average, 9.8 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Medway

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Medway increased by two years, from 35 to 37 years.

This suburban area had a lower average age than the South East and remained slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of about 6,400 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 6,000.

About 10% of people in Medway are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Medway by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

Medway saw the South East's second-largest fall in the proportion of married people.

In 2011, just under one in two (46%) people aged 16 and over in Medway said they were married, compared with 52% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 29% to 35%.

Across the region, only Hastings saw a greater fall in the proportion of married people (from 46% to 40%).

The proportion of married people was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Medway

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 30% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 30% in 2001

The number of people in Medway that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 42,000 in 2001 to just under 79,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 17% to 30% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Medway that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 180,000 in 2001 to about 150,000 in 2011 (from 72% to 58%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just over 19,000 to just under 18,000 (from 7.8% to 6.8%).

Just under 5,200 people (1.1%) said they were Muslim, up from just over 2,600 in 2001 (2.0%).

The population without a religion in Medway increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Medway by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Medway

The percentage of Medway residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.8% to 3.8% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 5.8%, while the percentage of Medway residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 91%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Medway at a faster rate than across the South East.

In Medway, the proportion of private renting increased from 9.3% in 2001 to 17% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 10% to 16%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Medway remained close to 13%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 75% to 68%.

Private renting in Medway increased by 7.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Medway, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Medway

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 90% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 90% in 2001

The number of people in Medway from the White ethnic groups remained close to about 240,000 between the last two censuses. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 95% to 90%.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%), but at a slower rate than the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Medway from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 8,400 in 2001 to about 14,000 in 2011 (from 3.4% to 5.2%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from about 1,700 to about 6,700 (from 0.7% to 2.5%).

Just under 5,200 people (1.1%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from just over 2,700 in 2001 (2.0%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Medway decreased by 5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Medway by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Medway residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.6% to 5.0% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 70% in 2001. The percentage of Medway residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Medway decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Medway, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Medway, which comprised a single parent, increased from 9.8% to 12% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in three (35%) households had a married couple, compared with 40% in 2001. The percentage of households in Medway, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 9.9% to 11%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.0% in 2001 to 9.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households with children fell in Medway, while rising in Dartford (one of the most statistically similar areas to Medway based on ONS area classifications).

In Medway, the proportion came down from 34% in 2001 to 32% in 2011, while across England it went up from 31% to 32%. During the same period, the regional proportion remained close to 29%.

The proportion of households without children in Medway increased from 56% to 57%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.9% to 11%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Medway working less than 16 hours increased from 1.4% to 2.8% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under one in nine (11%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 15% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.1% in 2001 to 3.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Medway increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Medway, the South East and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More students

The percentage of Medway residents that were studying increased from 2.3% to 3.4% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in two (54%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 57% in 2001. The percentage of Medway residents that were unemployed increased from 3.5% to 4.9%.

The proportion of students increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students in Medway increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Medway, the South East and England that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Medway residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.9% to 2.5% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.9%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 1.7% in 2001 to 2.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Medway remained close to 2.5%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Medway by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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